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DR203V: THE PRACTICE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (2024-2025)

Last modified: 20 Aug 2024 15:46


Course Overview

What does it mean to read the Bible responsibly? This question is vitally relevant to anyone working closely with biblical texts, whether in academic study or in the context of faith communities who consider the biblical texts to be their Scriptures. This course will bring together the theory or philosophy of biblical interpretation with the associated methods and skills. Students will learn how the way we think about biblical interpretation has changed through the modern period and will learn how to implement the critical methods associated with the various theories. As well as acquiring and refining an interpretive skill-set that will immediately benefit their own engagement with the Bible, students will be exposed to theories of interpretation that are radically different to traditional approaches. Whether or not they agree with these, the knowledge will allow them to understand why other readers of Scripture hold very different beliefs about what is “biblical”.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Katherine Hockey

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Programme Level 2

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will offer students an opportunity to reflect on what it means to read the Bible responsibly and to acquire the skills involved in good biblical interpretation. The practices involved are far more heavily affected by cultural and philosophical factors than we may recognize: approaches to the biblical texts that are considered acceptable at certain times or in certain contexts may be regarded as problematic or even reprehensible in others.

Understanding these issues will enable students to become responsible interpreters of the Bible, with an appropriately diverse skill set and a sensitivity to the motivating factors behind alternative interpretations. In order to accomplish this goal, the course will trace the major movements in traditional and modern “hermeneutics” while explaining the practical methods associated with each and allowing students the opportunity to practice these. As well as the key methods in historical criticism (including form-, source-, redaction-criticism), the course will engage with literary and social-scientific methods along with developments in ideological criticism (feminist, queer, black readings), as well as the recent renewal of interest in “theological interpretation.”


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 19 Feedback Weeks 26

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Feedback

Essay 2. Written feedback will be provided approximately 3 weeks after submission.

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandA developing ability to understand the underlying principles that shape these movements and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
ProceduralApplyAn ability to practice these methods in the interpretation of a range of genres within the biblical collections.
ProceduralApplyA resultant transferable skill-set that will assist in interpreting and explaining biblical texts and will facilitate engagement with more advanced biblical scholarship.
ProceduralUnderstandAn understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis.

Reflective Report

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks 18 Feedback Weeks 21

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Feedback

Reflective Journal – 250 words per week for weeks 1-10 of the course. Written feedback will be provided.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandA developing ability to understand the underlying principles that shape these movements and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
ConceptualUnderstandAn awareness of the movements in modern hermeneutics and their influence on interpretative methods.
ProceduralUnderstandAn understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks 13 Feedback Weeks 16

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Feedback

Essay 1. Written feedback will be provided approximately 3 weeks after submission.

Word Count 1000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyA resultant transferable skill-set that will assist in interpreting and explaining biblical texts and will facilitate engagement with more advanced biblical scholarship.
ProceduralApplyAn ability to practice these methods in the interpretation of a range of genres within the biblical collections.
ProceduralUnderstandAn understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of coursework

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Resubmission of failed elements of coursework with marks carried over for final grade.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralUnderstandAn understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis.
ConceptualUnderstandA developing ability to understand the underlying principles that shape these movements and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
ConceptualUnderstandAn awareness of the movements in modern hermeneutics and their influence on interpretative methods.
ProceduralApplyAn ability to practice these methods in the interpretation of a range of genres within the biblical collections.
ProceduralApplyA resultant transferable skill-set that will assist in interpreting and explaining biblical texts and will facilitate engagement with more advanced biblical scholarship.

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